A “Junior Suite” at Hotel 41: all rooms follow the same distinctive colour scheme and there are nice 1920s English pictures on the walls throughout

To fully understand how Hotel 41 had won such acclaim, I asked both Red Carnation executives some questions and then took a tour of the hotel. To get a second opinion, I also asked a colleague to explore Hotel 41’s TripAdvisor reviews (there are 444 of them so a good sample size) in detail.

The conclusions on how Hotel 41 has achieved no.1 are presented below:

“First impressions”. The entrance to Hotel 41 is discreet yet grand. Only guests are allowed into the hotel giving it the feel and tranquillity of a private club. Décor is strikingly original as the images show – but is not overbearing and also imbued with a sense of fun.

As you enter Hotel 41 and walk through its grand corridor before being whisked up to the top floor, you know you’re in for a rather unusual hotel experience

“Best of both worlds”. Hotel 41 is a small luxury 5 star hotel in the same building as a large 4 star hotel. There is an opportunity to share resources and staff to give added value to Hotel 41 guests. This kind of cost and value synergy would be hard for other hotels to replicate.

“A sense of history and occasion”. The hotel is a unique property on Buckingham Palace Road (with views of the Royal Mews) which used to be a former ballroom where debutantes were presented to the Queen.

The mezzanine area above the Hotel 41 lounge provides a quiet place for guests to work (there’s free WiFi throughout the hotel)

“Disadvantages become benefits”. The hotel’s lack of restaurant has been turned into a guest benefit. For example, it is one of the few luxury hotels in London to serve kippers at breakfast – in fact breakfast is served 24 hours a day. The menu in the lounge is based on comfort food (using impeccably-sourced ingredients) and you can ask for any item “to order”. You can also “raid the pantry” (like BA Business Class) at will. Informality combined with excellent service is loved by guests.

High staff-guest ratio and exceptional service. There is an impressive 2:1 staff to guest ratio to facilitate a very personal service style. As a lesser-known hotel, Hotel 41 probably sets lower expectations than places like Claridge’s while service levels are similar. Since only guests are allowed in, the public areas are never as busy as other hotels and staff are free to give you their full and undivided attention. I was struck by the extremely calm atmosphere in the Hotel 41 lounge.

The lounge of Hotel 41 is the heart of the hotel: it’s exclusive to hotel guests and will serve you pretty much anything you might wish “to order”

High repeat business rate (up to 70%). Hotel staff aim to learn about individual guests and build their database across multiple visits. First-time guests are sent a preference form and a big effort is made to source favourite items. Malcolm Hendry explains the hotel’s edge succinctly: “What we really do well is know the guest needs exactly”. The button on phones in guest rooms is labelled “Everything Anytime”.

A great General Manager whose personality “fits” the hotel. Malcolm Hendry exudes calmness and is clearly someone whose feathers are not easily ruffled. This is the ideal profile for someone running a luxury 5 star hotel of this type. He says he feels “truly lucky” in his job…his calm management style and enthusiasm clearly get transmitted to the staff.

Hotel 41 doesn’t do “conventional” as this photo of the hotel’s one (and only) sumptuous boardroom illustrates

Product innovation. Luxury hotels have changed because expectations of luxury have also changed. People don’t now want “stuffy” or formal but still expect great service – so new ideas like “Raid the Pantry” really work. There’s also a new concept of “hospitality suites” at Hotel 41 – these comprise both a comfy bedroom and an interconnected lounge with entertaining and business space. All facilities are provided (WiFi, business equipment, PAs, etc.). This is the ideal set-up for business guests who want to enjoy the 5-star surroundings but may have demanding business requirements too. It’s a very 21st century marriage of high-powered business with a need to unwind quickly.

A “Hospitality Suite” at Hotel 41 will help you combine business with pleasure (they’ll even bring you champagne at the end of a successful day)

Check-in date

Check-out date

The deal: as a London Hotels Insight insider you’ll get the Tune “comfort package” included – with TV, 24 hours of WiFi, towel & toiletry rental, room safe and hairdryer.

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The deal: as a London Hotels Insight insider you’ll get several extras at this gorgeously discreet gem (read about the hotel’s service philosophy here) round the corner from Harrods. You’ll love the complimentary cream tea!

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The deal: as an LHI insider you’ll get a free bottle of champagne in your room on arrival as well as a free English breakfast for two (minimum 2 night stay). Free WiFi is already standard and don’t forget to stay for afternoon tea!

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The deal: as a London Hotels Insight insider you’ll receive a complimentary welcome cocktail from Brunello Lounge as well as free WiFi throughout your stay in this stylish Italian luxury gem of a hotel – don’t miss aperitivo time!